Cons

The performance on our low pile carpet was poor

The filter was somewhat difficult to clean

4.5

5

Most robotic vacuums are round; this one is unconventionally straight on three sides and rounded on one. It has a small screen that displays settings and interacts with the user while cleaning. The Botvac 85's brush bar was the second widest in our test, making it easier to cover more surface as it moves. It cleaned our bare floors and carpets the fastest. In the straight-line lab test, our "Fast & Nimble Pick" picked up 95% of the oatmeal, orzo, baking soda, and sand debris in an average of 3.8 minutes from our bare floor, while others with auto-stop took from 4.3 to 14.5 minutes. Neato was one the top-performing robots in our simulated home environment, picking up 91% of the debris placed on the floor surfaces. It was very easy to use, and the dustbin was one of the easiest to remove and empty.

How We Tested: The Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab tested 10 robotic vacuums in lab tests and in a simulated home environment. We evaluated how well each vacuum picked up oatmeal, baking soda, orzo pasta and sand from bare floors, and pet hair, sand and dirt on low-pile carpet. We also looked at how well the products maneuvered around furniture, transitioned from room to room and from bare floors to an area rug, squeezed into tight corners and under a couch, went over small bumps on bare floors, and if they avoided stairs. We also noted how easy they were to set up initially and use daily, and how clear the user manual was.

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